Spirasi Referral Process

Step 1: A referral for an initial assessment must be made through the client’s GP or Primary Health Care Worker

If you feel that your patient/client is a victim of torture and may benefit from our services, please do not hesitate to refer them to us. Referrals for Initial Assessments, a multidisciplinary assessment carried out by a physician, a therapist and a psychosocial officer, are accepted from AMOs/GPs and other health care professionals by the completion of a specific form entitled Spirasi Initial Assessment Referral Form. This form can be filled online , or downloaded here (IA Referral Form) and emailed,faxed for posted to Spirasi.

Step 2: Application is sent to a Remit Panel for review

Once the referral is received the Spirasi Remit Panel adjudicates on the appropriateness of the referral based on the definition of torture as outlined in the UN Convention Against Torture and, as a result, may do one of the following:

Decide that Spirasi is not best placed to assist the client

Ask for further Information

Offer the applicant an appointment for an Initial Assessment

Step 3: Suitable clients are offered an appointment for an Initial Assessment

If the referral is accepted the patient/client is offered an appointment as soon as possible. Given our limited resources this can take up to three months depending on current waiting lists.

For the medical part of the assessment, Spirasi offers the possibility of seeing either a male or female physician.

Step 4: Care Plan

The outcome of the assessment is an individualised care plan involving further therapeutic and psychosocial support, if needed. A letter outlining the findings of the assessment is sent to the GP of the client/patient, whether or not the GP was the original referrer. As such, Spirasi will not offer an appointment if the client/patient is not currently registered with a GP.

The Spirasi services arising from the Initial Assessment Care Plan are offered free of charge.

NB: It is worth noting that this assessment does not constitute a Medico Legal Assessment. If such an assessment is required, a separate referral must come from the legal representative of the client/patient specifically requesting such an assessment. Having said that, if the Initial Assessment team feel that a Medico Legal Report might be beneficial this will be communicated to the client/patient as well as reminding them of their right to request such a report from their solicitor. Spirasi does not provide Medico Legal Reports free of charge.